AIRETT

In every person’s life, one of the primary functions is walking. It not only constitutes a fundamental element for daily life in terms of mobility per se but is a fundamental element for good health, e.g., mental, digestive and metabolic.

Some severe diseases impair the ability to walk independently, even though the musculoskeletal system is functionally little impaired. One example is Rett syndrome, a rare developmental neurological disorder predominantly affecting female subjects. This congenital disorder affects the central nervous system and is one of the most common causes of severe or very severe cognitive impairment, with significant effects on walking. The disease usually manifests itself after the first 6 to 18 months of life with the loss of motor skills, manual skills, and interest in social interaction. The incidence of the disease among 12-year-old girls is estimated at 1 in 9.000.

Girls with Rett lose the ability to ambulate independently at an early age. As a result, the family must take on the burden of supporting their daughter’s mobility, which becomes unmanageable as she gets older.